Article by Han Pham

Spotted at National Chengchi University’s (NCCU) BaoZhong Tea Festival this year, an open house day traditionally designed for domestic Taiwanese students: some international students having a good time there. What did these students find while immersed in this festival? Oguri Yoh, Leila Ishikawa, and Quinn Nguyen shared their experience at the NCCU BaoZhong Tea Festival: the vibrant department booths, energetic performances, and welcoming spirit of the NCCU community, all of which offered them a unique window into campus life.

Introduction to NCCU’s BaoZhong Tea Festival

The BaoZhong Tea Festival, first held in 2001, marks National Chengchi University's (NCCU) inaugural campus open house, now with a rich history spanning over a decade. Named after Wenshan Baozhong Tea, a regional specialty, this annual event invites prospective students and their families to explore NCCU's diverse departments in a dynamic, hands-on environment. It's a unique opportunity to connect with faculty, staff, and current students who provide face-to-face insights into each department, helping attendees better understand NCCU's unique academic offerings.

Each department thoughtfully sets up engaging booths, with live performances held in front of the Siwei Hall to create a lively atmosphere. Alongside interactive displays, the festival hosts in-depth seminars led by department faculty, providing a comprehensive understanding of various academic programs and their prospects. This multifaceted experience ensures that the BaoZhong Tea Festival equips prospective NCCU students with accurate, timely information to guide their educational choices.

▲This year’s festival atmosphere was bustling, with more than 2,000 high school students from across Taiwan pouring in, setting a new post-epidemic record.

A Dynamic and Engaging Festival Atmosphere

The trio began their journey by strolling through the vibrant stalls of the various faculties and pausing at the eye-catching performances that filled the air with creativity and passion. Oguri Yoh (小栗世羽) - a freshman in the Communication Department, caught attention with the dance and musical acts that brought lively energy to the event. For Oguri, the event revealed the university's many diverse departments. She explained, "I realized there's much more here than I initially thought." The festival encouraged her to branch out, expressing a newfound interest in connecting with students from different departments in the future.

▲Beautiful performance of the Slavic Languages Department.

Leila Ishikawa, who hails from the International College of Innovation (ICI), felt similarly drawn to the performances, particularly those of the Communication department. "It left a strong impression," she said, adding that the booths of other departments like Economics, Russian, and her own ICI department fostered interaction through games, making the experience fun, informative, and engaging space to connect. She also appreciated that not everyone could speak English, but when they noticed she couldn’t speak Mandarin, a few of them made an effort to use English, which was kind of them. Seeing how willing they were to communicate and make the trio feel included was beautiful. These interactions gave her a better understanding of the friendly and supportive atmosphere at the university and helped her learn more about the different departments and opportunities available here.

Quinn Nguyen, a Vietnamese first-year studying Diplomacy, was captivated by the Slavic Languages booth, where she found students brimming with enthusiasm. “They were really energetic, and it just made me gain more energy,” she said. The interaction sparked his interest in the Russian language, noting that he loved the sound of Russian and was considering minoring in it. “I would most likely join more of these activities,” she added, seeing the festival as an invaluable space for discovering new passions and meeting students she wouldn’t typically encounter.

Building Connections Across NCCU's Diverse Community.

The festival provided Yoh, Leila, and Quinn with a greater understanding of the various departments at NCCU. Yoh mentioned, "I initially thought I would focus more specifically on media, so some of the information I received at the event differed from my previous understanding." Quinn added, "I believe I can learn more about the people at NCCU, especially the students in my department. I wouldn't have the opportunity to meet all the seniors at once if it weren't for the BaoZhong Tea Festival."

▲Leila Ishikawa, a first-year International College of Innovation (ICI) student.

For Leila, the all-in-one setting of the festival was a unique and rare experience. "It's especially helpful for international students who can't understand Chinese; it gives us a chance to explore each department's culture and get a feel for what it might be like to study there," she shared. "You get to see the atmosphere of each department in a single setting, and it's easier to explore and find the best fit for you." This overview gave her a glimpse of how each department showcases its character, from attire (some wore suits, their original t-shirts, or just wore what they wanted) to unique activities, something she felt was a privilege and an invaluable experience. As a half-Japanese and half-Russian, visiting the Russian department was a pleasant experience for Leila as they spoke to her in Russian, which made it easier for her to interact. She also believes this is a specific example of how the BaoZhong Tea Festival helps students feel connected to the campus community.

Through these connections at The BaoZhong Tea Festival, Leila, Yoh, and Quinn all gained a deeper understanding of the department cultures, especially the supportive, friendly nature of the NCCU community, which allows them to meet others with similar backgrounds or interests, making them feel welcomed and included.

Inspired to Become Future Department Ambassadors

▲Quinn Nguyen, a first-year student from the Diplomacy Department.

The festival experience sparked an interest in becoming department ambassadors among the students. Leila expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “I’d love to help freshmen learn about our department, especially with a Taiwanese and an international student working together to represent our diversity.” Yoh, too, felt that she would enjoy sharing his department’s unique events and encouraging new students to embrace the opportunities available in university life.

Quinn, who chose NCCU for its reputation as one of Taiwan’s most prestigious universities in social sciences, saw herself promoting her department as a stepping stone toward future leadership in global affairs. “My department provides a very good learning environment, and I would emphasize that our program could be a first step to becoming a future leader,” she shared, eager to inspire potential students with her journey.

New Perspectives on University Festivals

▲Oguri Yoh (小栗世羽) - a freshman in the Communication Department

Reflecting on the differences between university fairs in their home countries and the BaoZhong Tea Festival, the students found the open-house day approach in Taiwan refreshing. In many of their home countries, college open houses are more structured and less interactive, often involving formal presentations by faculty or school representatives. Quinn noted, “Universities usually visit our high school, but we have to sit down and listen, which is very boring, in my opinion.”

The BaoZhong Tea Festival's interactive nature, with games, performances, and booths, offered a lively contrast to the traditional presentations she was used to, making the exploration of departments more accessible and enjoyable.

For Leila, her high school in Japan held similar festivals, but as she shared, the atmosphere was unalike, and they were more focused on high school students and parents. "One difference I noticed is that the BaoZhong Tea Festival highlights each department’s unique culture and allows students from different backgrounds to connect. At my high school, each classroom had a different booth, so being able to see everything gathered outside in one place felt new and refreshing."

▲Yoh, Leila, and Quinn (from the left) taking a picture with the festival’s backdrop.

Ultimately, the BaoZhong Tea Festival opened their eyes to a vibrant way of exploring higher education. This welcoming, community-centered approach helped them feel more connected and invested in the university’s diverse culture and academic paths. For these international students, NCCU’s festival was an introduction to their future campus life and an invitation to shape their experience, both academically and socially.

The BaoZhong Tea Festival provided international students such as Yoh, Leila, and Quinn with an engaging introduction to NCCU’s campus community. This event transcended its Taiwanese origins, offering these students a chance to discover new interests, build significant connections, and gain an understanding of the university’s inclusive culture. The trio is eager to share their departmental experiences, hoping to motivate and assist the next generation of NCCU students.